Teeming peacock population throws new challenges to Kuppam farmers, foresters
In the rural side of the Kuppam region of Chittoor district, flanked by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka along the rocky hill ranges, the piercing call
In the rural side of the Kuppam region of Chittoor district, flanked by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka along the rocky hill ranges, the piercing call of peacocks is as much a part of the landscape as the granite outcrops and scrub forests that define the tri-State terrain. Till a decade ago, the Indian peafowl was confined to forest fringes, but now the bird is a familiar and frequent visitor to villages, agricultural fields, and even institutional campuses across the region. The forest authorities of Chittoor confirm that the bird’s population is growing steadily. “The peacock is a Schedule-I species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, enjoying the same level of legal protection as the tiger.
But unlike the tiger, whose conservation remains a challenge in many parts of the country, peacock numbers have been increasing consistently, not only in Kuppam but across India,” says District Forest Officer G. Subburaj. The forests of the Kuppam region continue to provide an ideal habitat for peafowl. Open forests, cultivated fields, seasonal water sources, and rocky elevations offer abundant food and safe roosting sites. The area around Dravidian University and the adjoining hillocks has also become a regular habitat for the national bird. Across several hamlets and semi-urban villages as well, farmers express concern over increasing crop damage caused by peacocks. Paddy fields are the worst hit, while vegetable crops and cereal plantations also bear the brunt.
During cropping seasons, pride after pride of peacocks regularly move out of nearby forests and linger for hours feeding in cultivated lands. The DFO said that though peacock deaths are reported from time to time, poaching is almost absent in the region. “Most casualties are attributed to natural causes such as attacks by stray dogs or accidental exposure to agricultural chemicals. Our department personnel have rescued several injured birds over the years, many suffering from dog bites and suspected pesticide poisoning. On average, we rescue three to four birds every month,” he said. The field staff admits that pesticide-related deaths are difficult to quantify. In some cases, farmers may choose not to report such incidents, fearing legal complications because of the birds’ protected status.
As a result, carcasses are sometimes found abandoned near forest fringes, leaving many cases unrecorded. Ramakrishna, a paddy farmer in Ramakuppam, observed that what is present in Kuppam today is not a regular wildlife conservation tale. It is the real story of a highly protected species that has adapted incredibly to a changing landscape. “The teeming peacock population is unfolding new realities for the people of the pastoral landscape,” he said.
The BriefWire